milkyspit
Flashlight Enthusiast
VERY IMPORTANT UPDATE 2/23/2005! I'm locking this thread since it's getting pretty long. From this point forward, you can follow the MC2 and Milky Tester in the new thread I've started over here. Thanks! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Update 9/8/2004: I just posted a couple teaser photos of the MC2. They're at the bottom of the thread. (Well, at least they are for now!) /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ohgeez.gif
As things progress, I'll eventually open a new thread specifically for the MC2. When that happens, I'll announce it in THIS thread so anyone tracking this one will be aware of the new one. Until then, feel free to continue posting here! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
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Milky Candle Pilot Run... (Original Post)
Q: Can anyone guess what this is? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
A: The Milky Candle! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinser2.gif
Top view:
Side view:
Evolution:
Some Quick Specs:
(summarized from posts lower in the thread)
Three brightness settings...
"High" runs at roughly Arc-AAA brightness for 43 hours on fresh cells.
"Medium" runs just bright enough to see everything in an average-sized room for 166 hours on fresh cells.
"Nightlight" mode runs bright enough to see everything in at least a 6 foot radius with dark-adapted eyes, for 1000 hours on fresh cells.
All three levels are current regulated, meaning equal brightness for pretty much the entire runtime. As the batteries reach the end of their service life, the Milky Candle drops into direct drive mode, meaning several more hours of gradually diminishing light. (Maybe dozens of hours in nightlight mode.)
Tailcap...
Like a SureFire tactical switch. Twist on, twist off, press for momentary activation. No lockout mode, but switch is inset to minimize accidental activation.
Ability to drain spent 123 cells...
The Milky Candle can run cells that don't even light up the SureFire Hurricane Lamp 12B. Once a pair of cells can no longer run in the Milky Candle at any brightness level, at least one is likely to measure flash amps of 0.01A or less.
Credits...
I've spoken with a number of people over the past few months, and their ideas helped gel the details of the Milky Candle as it presently exists. Too numerous to list, really, but you folks know who you are. Refinement of the Milky Candle will continue based on feedback from the pilot run. Thanks guys!
Doug Owen answered the call for a super efficient regulation circuit meeting particular benchmarks of brightness and runtime. He's designed a great "engine" for the Candle while paying attention to keeping it affordable. He's also been a mentor for me on production issues... no, more like a father... and as with all father-son relationships, sometimes he pisses me off. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif But he's brutally honest and deserves a great deal of credit for his efforts.
The story continues. More details throughout the thread in subsequent posts.
Update 9/8/2004: I just posted a couple teaser photos of the MC2. They're at the bottom of the thread. (Well, at least they are for now!) /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ohgeez.gif
As things progress, I'll eventually open a new thread specifically for the MC2. When that happens, I'll announce it in THIS thread so anyone tracking this one will be aware of the new one. Until then, feel free to continue posting here! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
------------------------------------------------------------
Milky Candle Pilot Run... (Original Post)
Q: Can anyone guess what this is? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
A: The Milky Candle! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinser2.gif
Top view:
Side view:
Evolution:
Some Quick Specs:
(summarized from posts lower in the thread)
Three brightness settings...
"High" runs at roughly Arc-AAA brightness for 43 hours on fresh cells.
"Medium" runs just bright enough to see everything in an average-sized room for 166 hours on fresh cells.
"Nightlight" mode runs bright enough to see everything in at least a 6 foot radius with dark-adapted eyes, for 1000 hours on fresh cells.
All three levels are current regulated, meaning equal brightness for pretty much the entire runtime. As the batteries reach the end of their service life, the Milky Candle drops into direct drive mode, meaning several more hours of gradually diminishing light. (Maybe dozens of hours in nightlight mode.)
Tailcap...
Like a SureFire tactical switch. Twist on, twist off, press for momentary activation. No lockout mode, but switch is inset to minimize accidental activation.
Ability to drain spent 123 cells...
The Milky Candle can run cells that don't even light up the SureFire Hurricane Lamp 12B. Once a pair of cells can no longer run in the Milky Candle at any brightness level, at least one is likely to measure flash amps of 0.01A or less.
Credits...
I've spoken with a number of people over the past few months, and their ideas helped gel the details of the Milky Candle as it presently exists. Too numerous to list, really, but you folks know who you are. Refinement of the Milky Candle will continue based on feedback from the pilot run. Thanks guys!
Doug Owen answered the call for a super efficient regulation circuit meeting particular benchmarks of brightness and runtime. He's designed a great "engine" for the Candle while paying attention to keeping it affordable. He's also been a mentor for me on production issues... no, more like a father... and as with all father-son relationships, sometimes he pisses me off. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif But he's brutally honest and deserves a great deal of credit for his efforts.
The story continues. More details throughout the thread in subsequent posts.
